Water closet



Jan. 9, 1968 w. s. MCKINSTRY 3,362,030

v WATER CLOSET Filed Oct. 2:5, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

WILLIAM S. MCKINSTRY BY M, w: 52

ATTORNEYS Jan. 9, 1968 w. s. MOKINSTRY 3,362,030

WATER LosET Filed Oct. 23, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

WILLIAM S. MCKINSTRY BY 320/ a @440 ATTORNEYS United States Patent Ofiice 3,362,030 WATER CLOSET William S. McKinstry, Lakewood, Ohio, assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Filed Oct. 23, 1965, Ser. No. 503,608 14- Claims. (Cl. 427) This invention relates in general to water closets, and more particularly, to a packaged flushing unit adapted for ready insertion in the conventional flush tank of a water closet and which is adapted for use in lieu of the conventional valving mechanism, for discharging water from the tank, to flush the bowl of the water closet.

In the conventional water closet, the flush tank includes a valve seat and a valve for controlling the flow of water by gravity from the flush tank down into the bowl, includes the conventional overflow pipe, and also includes valving mechanism for controlling the flow of water into the flush tank. Such mechanism, because of its construction, is noisy resulting in considerable sound as the water rises in the flush tank and is shut oif by the conventional valving mechanism associated with the water inlet to the flush tank, and also considerable noise is produced as the water exits from the flush tank. This noise is annoying to some users of the water closet and to those in the vicinity thereof. Moreover, the valve mechanism associated with the inlet to the flush tank, often times becomes worn rather rapidly and fails to operate properly, resulting in considerable wasting of water and necessitating replacement of such valving mechanism.

The present invention provides a packaged flushing unit which is in the form of an auxiliary tank adapted to be inserted into the conventional flush tank of a Water closet and to be connected with an inlet source of water pressure, and which also includes integral valve mechanism which is adapted to control the flow of water from this pressurized auxiliary tank to the exit port of the conventional flush tank, for flushing the bowl of the water closet.

Accordingly, an object of the invention is to provide a novel water closet arrangement.

Another object of the invention is to provide a flushing unit which is adapted for insertion into the conventional flush tank of a water closet, for replacing the conventional valve structure conventionally found therein, and which is operative to expeditiously flush the bowl of the Water closet in a generally sound deadening manner.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel auxiliary tank which is adapted for connection to a source of pressurized water and is adapted to be inserted into the conventional flush tank of a water closet and to be connected to the conventional exit port therein, and which includes valve mechanism for controlling the flow of water therein which is under pressure from the source, to the flush tank outlet and into the bowl, to flush the bowl, and in a generally sound deadening manner.

Another object of the invention is to provide an arrangement of the above mentioned type which includes means therein for inserting refill water into the bowl, after the pressurized flushing thereof, and wherein such refill Water flows by gravity into the bowl.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a conventional flush tank of a water closet with the inserta'ble flushing unit of the invention disposed therein, and is generally taken along the plane of line 1-1 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 2 is an elevational sectional view of the FIG. 1 embodiment showing the integral valve mechanism of the flushing unit;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the insertable flushing unit of the invention;

3,362,3 Patented Jan. 9, 1968 FIG. 4 is an enlarged, sectioned, elevational view of the mechanism for actuating the valve controlling the exiting of water from the pressurized flushing unit, and the means for generally sealing such mechanism from escape of water from the pressurized unit during actuation of the valve mechanism;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged elevational view of a means such as a handle, for use on the conventional flushing tank, for actuating the valve mechanism controlling the pressurized flow of water from the flushing unit to the exit port of the conventional flushing tank.

Referring now again to the drawings, there is illustrated a conventional flushing tank 10 of a conventional water closet, including side walls 12 and a bottom wall 14, with there being a conventional opening 16 in the bottom wall of the tank which is conventionally utilized for attaching the tank to a source of pressurized water from a conventional distribution system of a residence or other environment where the Water closet is located. The tank also embodies a conventional exit opening 18 therein through which the water from the tank flows into the bowl for flushing the same.

The flushing unit 20 of the invention, which is made of a size that will fit into the conventional flushing tank of a water closet, is preferably of a housing or tanklike affair 22 which may be made of any suitable material which is able to withstand the conventional water pressures found in any conventional water distributing system, such as that of a residence or other establishment where the water closet is adapted for use. Moreover, the housing or tank 22 is preferably made of a sound deadening material such as plastic or hard rubber.

Such unit 20 may have a threaded fitting 24 secured to the bottom thereof, for insertion through the aforementioned conventional inlet opening 16 to the flush tank, and which is adapted for coupling to the conventional water line 26 of the water distributing system. Such water line may have a conventional shut-off valve 28 associated therewith, for shutting ofif the water pressure leading into the auxiliary tank 22.

The tank 22 may have an opening '30 therein (FIG. 2) and may have a fitting 31 positioned in the opening and forming a valve seat 32. The fitting may be held to the tank 22 in sealed relation therewith by any suitable sealing and fastener means 34, and may be connected by means of a conduit 36 which is preferably of a generally flexible and sound deadening type conduit, to the conventional exit opening 18 of the flush tank, for connecting the auxiliary tank to the exit opening 18 of the flush tank. A suitable fitting (e.g. 38) may be utilized for so connecting the fluid flow conduit 36 to the exit opening in the flush tank, Fitting 38 may be attached in sealed relation in exit opening 18 by nut and sealing mechanism 40. Fitting 38 may have an opening or passage 42 therein for a purpose to be hereinafter described. Conduit 36 also has an orifice 44 therein (FIGS. 2 and 3) for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

Inside of the auxiliary tank 22 there is provided a valve 46 which is adapted for engagement with the valve seat 32 for sealing the flow of liquid from the auxiliary tank into the conduit 36. Such valve 46 which may be made of rubber, may be of the general semi-conical configuration illustrated having a spherical-like underside adapted for sealing engagement with the confronting valve seat 32. Valve 46 may have an upstanding rod 48 preferably detachably connected thereto, which rod is received in generally loose but guided fashion in the lower portion 50 of right-angled tube member 52., for guiding the vertical movement of valve 46.

Now to operate the valve 4 6 in order to move the valve member to an open position, and thus permit exiting of the water in the auxiliary tank 22, there may be provided a flushing 55 on the exterior of the flushing tank which is adapted to exert a pull on the line means 56. The flushing lever in the embodiment illustrated comprises a handle portion 53 which has a cam portion 60 adjacent its upper end, with the handle being pivoted as at 62 to a supporting shank portion 64 which extends through the conventional opening in the conventional flush tank. The supporting portion 64 is preferably detachably connected to the line means 56 which is preferably of the known flexible bead-chain type formed of a corrosion resistant material.

Line means 56 may pass around a pulley 68 rotatably mounted on the upper surface of the tank 22 of the flushing unit 20. The line means then takes a right angle turn and may be connected to a coiled extension spring 70 (the purpose of which will be hereinafter described). The spring 70 may in turn be connected to a cylindrical-like plug member 72 slideably mounted for axial movement in the upper portion 74 of tube member 52 which extends along the upper surface of the auxiliary tank 22, and then makes a right angled turn at portion 76 down interiorly of the tank of the flushing unit. Portion 76 is preferably substantially solid except for the relatively small central passageway 73 therethrough, which opens onto end surfaces 7Sa of portion 76. Lower portion 50 of tube member 52 also has a cylindrical-like plug member 80 mounted therein for axial sliding movement. Plug members 72 and 80 may be connected by a section 82 of the flexible line means 56. The lower plug member 80 may then in turn be connected to the valve member stem 48 as by means of a section 84 of the flexible bead chain. The plug members 72, 80, preferably embody sealing means such as a flat resilient washer 86 of Wear resistant material, for causing a good sealing relationship of the plug member with the corresponding end surface 78a of the right angled portion 76 when the plug member is moved into engagement with the respective end surface. This engagement of the sealing means with the corresponding end surface insures sealing of the tube member 52 from egress of the pressurized water in tank 22. Moreover, plug members 72 and 80 preferably have a close fitting relationship with the interior of the respective tubular portion 74 and 50 and thus further restrict the flow of water from the tank through tube member 52.

It will be seen therefore that when the lower plug member 80 moves into engagement with confronting end surface 78a of right angled portion 76, a sealing of the tube member passageway 78 is occasioned, and pressurized water in the tank cannot move up the tubular member 52 and outwardly thereof above the tank of the auxiliary unit, even though the upper plug member 72 is then in a position where it has been moved away from engagement with its associated confronting surface 78a, and as shown in FIG. 4. All of the parts of the flushing unit are preferably formed of corrosion resistant materials to insure trouble free operation thereof. The tank or housing 22 may have a threaded access opening closed by a cover plate 87 which may be threaded for convenient attachment to the tank and which may be disposed in sealed relation to the tank. The aforementioned tubular member 52 may be attached to the cover for removal as a unit with the cover, if it is desired to obtain access to the tank for replacement of valve member 46.

Operation of the novel system may be as follows:

Since the tank 22 of the auxiliary flushing unit is connected in direct communication with the water distributing system of the residence or other location of its use, the water in the tank of the flushing unit 20 is under the pressure existing in the distributing system, which may be of the order of 30 to 40 psi. or sometimes even more. The water in such tank 22 is prevented from exiting through the conduit tube 36 due to the seating of the valve member 46 on its valve seat 32, with the pressure of the water holding the valve 46 in good sealing relationship. Upon upward actuation of the flushing handle 53 and pivoting thereof about its pivot point 62, a pulling force is exerted on line means 56, causing the line means to pull upwardly on the valve member 46, and via plug members 72, and line sections 82, 84, and thus opening the valve member to permit exiting of water in the auxiliary tank through fitting 31. The Water which is under system pressure streams through the conduit 36, through fitting 38, and into the bowl, flushing the bowl. Since the water is under system pressure, the flushing of the bowl is occasioned in a much more expeditious manner and with a lower volume of water. During this tension on the line means 56, the lower plug member 80 moves into sealing relationship with the confronting end surface 78a of the right angled portion 76 of tube member 52 and thus prevents water in the tank 22 from moving up through the tubular member 52 and out above the tank of the auxiliary unit. It will be seen that during such flushing tension of the line means 56, the upper plug member 72 is moved generally out of sealing relationship with respect to its confronting end surface of portion 76. Since the tank 22 and the curved conduit 36 are formed of sound deadening materials (such as plastic or rubber) the sound of the exiting water is hushed.

As the water flows down through the conduit 36 and into the bowl to flush the same, some water escapes through the bleed opening or orifice 44 in the conduit 36 and through the passageway 42 in fitting 38, flows into the flushing tank proper as at 88 (FIG. 2) along side the auxiliary unit. Thus, when the flushing handle is released, and the pressure on the valve member 46 moves it to closed position, thus closing off the exit opening 30 in the tank 22, there is located in the flushing tank proper a certain portion of refill water which then seeps by gravity through the opening 42 in the fitting 38 and then flows into the bowl to refill the bowl to the desired level.

Upon closing the valve member 46, the upper plug 72 is of course, pulled or urged into sealing relationship with the corresponding end surface of portion 76 of tubular member 52, thus sealing the pressurized water in the tank 22 from passing up through the tubular member 52 and out the upper end of the tubular member. The spring member 70 is of such strength that it is not adapted to extend until lower plug member 80 engages in abutting relation with the confronting surface 78a. Thereafter spring member 70 elongates. Upon release of the flushing handle, the spring contracts, thus giving a slight delay in the closing of fitting 31 by the valve member 46.

From the foregoing description and accompanying drawings, it will be seen that the invention provides a novel arrangement for a water closet and which includes a pressurized flushing unit which may be readily inserted into the conventional flushing tank of a water closet and which is operative to flush the bowl of the water closet and in a manner which utilizes the pressure of the conventional distribution system to which the water closet is connected. The invention also provides a unit which is of simplified construction and has no particular parts that will wear rapidly or will necessitate continuous repair thereof, and also a unit which provides a sound deadening flushing action. The invention also provides a flushing mechanism which is operative to utilize a smaller amount of water than is conventionally used in a gravity flushing tank for flushing the bowl of a water closet.

The terms and expressions which have been used, are used as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention in the use of such terms and expressions of excluding any equivalents of any of the features described or shown, or portions thereof, and it is recognized that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention claimed.

I claim:

1. A flushing unit adapted for insertion in the flushing tank of a water closet comprising, a housing, means adapted for connecting the housing to a source of pressurized water whereby the housing will contain pressurized water, a port in said housing, a valve mechanism adapted to control the exiting of pressurized water from said port, means for selectively actuating said valve mechanism and including conduit means connected to said port and adapted for connection to the exit opening of th flushing tank, and means in said conduit means for permitting the flow of a quantity of water generally transversely through said conduit means during flow of water therethrough.

2. A flushing unit in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means for selectively actuating said valve mechanism includes a tubular-like member extending from the interior of said housing exteriorly of the unit, and line means extending through said tubular-like member and into actuating coaction with the valve mechanism, and means for sealing the line means with respect to said tubular-like member.

3. A flushing unit in accordance with claim 1 wherein said housing is formed of a sound deadening material, such as a plastic.

4. A flushing unit in accordance with claim 1 wherein said conduit means is formed of a sound deadening material, such as rubber.

5. A flushing unit in accordance with claim 1 wherein said housing includes a first section adapted to be supported on the bottom wall of the flushing tank and a second section spaced upwardly with respect to said first housing section.

6. A flushing unit in accordance with claim 1 including an access opening in said housing for permitting access to said valve mechanism, and a cover plate sealing said access opening.

7. A flushing unit in accordance with claim 2 wherein said tubular member is of right angled configuration extending from exteriorly of said housing into the interior thereof, said means for sealing said line means comprising plug members movable axially in said tubular member in liquid sealing relation therewith.

8. A flushing unit in accordance with claim 7 wherein said tubular member comprises a portion having a relatively narrow passageway therethrough, through which extends said line means, said passageway at opposite ends opening onto substantially fiat sealing surfaces, each of said sealing surfaces being adapted for engagement with the respective of said plug members upon predetermined axial movement of said plug members in said tubular member.

9. A flushing unit in accordance with claim 8 wherein each of said plug members comprises a resilient sealing element adapted for abutting sealing relation with the corresponding of said sealing surfaces, each of said plug members having a close sliding fit with the interior of said tubular member to aid in resisting the egress of pressurized water from said housing.

10. A flushing unit in accordance with claim 8 wherein said line means comprises flexible bead chain.

11. A flushing unit in accordance with claim 7 wherein said valve mechanism comprises a valve member engagehle with a seat in said port, said valve member having an upstanding stern received in guided relation in said tubular member for axial movement therein, and means coupling said stem to one of said plug members.

12. In combination, a flushing tank of water closet and a flushing unit inserted in said flushing tank, said flushing tank having a bottom wall and side walls, said bottom wall having an inlet opening therethrough for entry of flushing water and having an exit opening therethrough for discharge of water therefrom, said flushing unit comprising a housing of sound deadening material, means on said housing extending through said inlet opening and adapted for coupling to a source of pressurized water, said housing having a port therein, a valve seat in said port, a valve mechanism adapted for seating engagement with said seat to control the flow of pressurized water from said housing, means for selectively actuating said valve mechanism to cause withdrawal thereof from said seat and pressurized flow of water through said port, and conduit means coupling said port to said exit opening.

13. The combination in accordance with claim 12 wherein said conduit means is formed of a curved section of tubing of a sound deadening nature.

14. The combination in accordance with claim 13 wherein said conduit means includes apertures therein for permitting water flowing through said conduit means to pass generally transversely through said tubing into said flushing tank adjacent said housing, and to drain back through said exit opening after closure of said valve mechanism.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 346,261 7/1886 Boye 4-40 349,347 9/1886 Harvey 440 354,133 12/1886 Hammann 4--40 485,155 10/1892 Hendegen 435 3,259,918 7/1966 Walker et al. 4--l8 LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner. H. K. ARTIS, Assistant Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,362,030 January 9, 1968 William S. McKinstry It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

In the heading to the printed specification, lines 3 and 4, for "William S. McKinstry, Lakewood, Ohio, assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York" read William S. McKinstry, 1520 Waterbury Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107 Signed and sealed this 25th day of February 1969.

(SEAL) Attest:

Edward M. Fletcher, Ir. EDWARD J. BRENNER Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. A FLUSHING UNIT ADAPTED FOR INSERTION IN THE FLUSHING TANK OF A WATER CLOSET COMPRISING, A HOUSING, MEANS ADAPTED FOR CONNECTING THE HOUSING TO A SOURCE OF PRESSURIZED WATER WHEREBY THE HOUSING WILL CONTAIN PRESSURIZED WATER, A PORT IN SAID HOUSING, A VALVE MECHANISM ADAPTED TO CONTROL THE EXITING OF PRESSURIZED WATER FROM SAID PORT, MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY ACTUATING SAID VALVE MECHANISM AND INCLUDING CONDUIT MEANS CONNECTING TO SAID PORT AND ADAPTED FOR CONNECTING TO THE EXIT OPENING OF THE 